mendelsohn



s. MENDELsoHN Re. 22,338

PHOTOFLASH SYNCHRONIZER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed Sept. 2l, 1936June 22', 1943. l

INVENTOR.

' June 22, 1'943. s. MNDELSOHN n PHOTOFLASH SYNGHRONIZER 3Sheets--SheevI 2 Original Filed Sept, 21, 1956 ATTORNEY.

Re. Y22,338

` S. MENDELSOHN PHOTOFLASH SYNCHRONIZER Original Filed Sept. 21, 1956 2e n u J 3 Sheets-ShenI 3 ATTORNEY.

Reuued June 22, 1943 u1u-riso STATES PATENT Aorner.

Pno'romsn srmcuaomzmt samuel Mendenhall, Manteau, N. J. original No.2,204,424, ma June 11'. 1940, serial No. 101,782, for reissue n claims.This invention relates to a device for use with photographic apparatusfor the purpose ci synchroniziri-g -the flash produced by a photoash'means for causing an instantaneous actuation of l a cable release toactuate a camera shutter and to operate a phototlash lamp.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device attachable to acamera so arranged an constructed that upon the operation of a switch tolight a photoflash lamp a simultaneous operation of the camera shutteris effected.

Another object 'of the invention is to provide a device in which meansare provided to store sumcient potential energy to operate a cablerelease and to release said energy by means effecting an operation of aphotoash lamp.

Another object of the invention is to provide a l combined mechanicaland electrical device in which electrical energy operates to releasemechanical energy to cause the simultaneous or synchronized operation ofa photoi'lash lamp and a camera shutter.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more clearlyunderstood by reference to the following description together with theaccompanying drawings in which,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a device constructed in accordancel withmy invention applied to a camera;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side viewk of my device partly broken away to moreclearly show certain movable parts; l

Fig. 3 is a view taken on thel right hand side of the device shown inFig. l;

Fig. 4 is a view taken on line IV--IV in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a schematic viewof the electrical circuit and spring actuatedelements of the present device, and

Fig. 6 is a curve showing the peak of light illumination in I. P. U.(international photographic units) and the duration in fractions ofseconds.

Although the present camera shutter operating device may be supported inany suitable Vmanner d 20 side of the battery il (see Fig. 5).

50 Sheath or casing 6s piece 4| which bridges September-721, 1936.Application May 14, 1941, Serial No. 393,463

one practical embodiment is shown wherein the shutter operatingmechanism actuateswhat is termed a cable release which in turn actuates'a camera shutter.

5 The said mechanism which is indicated as/a whole by the numeral I'Ilis contained in a support Il having flanges I2 secured to a batterycasing I4. At one end I5 of the casing is a socket I6 to receive thebase of a photoiiash lamp` I1 of the usual commercial type. A reiiectorI8 may be provided at one side of the lamp. The lamp I1 is provided witha heater element or primer I9 around which is disposed loosely packedaluminum foil 20. The heater element is provided with leads 2| and 22which are connected in the usual manner -to the 'metallic shell of thebase and to a central contact thereof. The shell of the base iselectrically connected to a conductor 23 with one The central contact isconnected by conductor 2l to the other side of the battery. A switch25.is provided for purposes to be later described. Conductor 23' leadsfrom the shell of the base to one end of the 25 coil of a solenoid 26and conductor 24' leads from the central contact of the base to theother end ofthe coil of the solenoid. Thus when' the switch 26 is closedcurrent iiows through the heater element I9 and through the solenoid 2Gto energize the same and operates an armature 21. The armature serves torelease a plunger 28 to actuate acable release which in turn actuates acamera shutter arm 23 through the movement of a cable release 30 in theform of a flexible wire 3D in a casing 3l.

The mechanism for operating the cable release includes the support I Iwhich carries a housing 33 for theplunger 28 and the solenoid 26. Thishousing is held in the support II and retained by cross-pieces or slideclamps 34 and 35.

These clamps may be fitted tightly or may be held by set screws andbeing adjustable along the support it is possible to adjust the housing33 relative to the support for purposes to be presently described.

Between the housing 33 and the battery casing and inclosed by thesupport II is a socket or retainer member 36 for the cable release 30.As above pointed outI the cable release includes a 3| which is anchoredin the l member 3G and one end 31 of the flexible wire 3B oi' the cablerelease is attached to one end of a push rod 38 in an adjustable bearing39. The

other end of the push rod is secured to a iinger the push rod and theThe plunger 28 is provided with a latch member to engage the armature 21which latter is norber and an adjustable bearing 46 serves to provideenergy to actuate the plunger 28 and consequently the cable release.

The upper end 41 oi' a cap 49 cable release.

In operation a lamp is inserted in the socket, the switch 25 be actuatedby the cable re1ease.

'I'he switch 25 is then closed to cause current to ow in the circuit.'Ihe coil of the solenoid ycoil of the solenoid becomes energized tocause yso that the potential energy -in the springL is released tooperate the camera shutter at the peak ofthe ilash and as shown in thegraph Fig. 6 it takes` .019 of a second to reach thev peak for thehighest I. P. U. output.

In my Patent No. 1,986,513, yissued January 1, 1935, a device is thearmature to move elements operate to trip the shutter.

As will be noted the cable release is adjustable since the operatingmechanism is slidable in the A set screw 52 holds the housing 33 byreason of the clamps 3l and 35. When the set screw 52 is loosened theclamps slideV to perso that the exact degree of impact on the lever ofthe shutter may be attained.

The stop and stop I9 serve to provide a fine degree of adjustment inlimiting the movement of the plunger 2l in of the Iiash. With theadjustment provided'the device may be readily set to operate a shutterwith any make of photoiash bulb.`

'I'he present invention provides -a device which 'Ihe solenoid yarmaturemay be adjusted by varying the tension of the spring Il to hasten ordelay the action of the amature to give a time factor in that it can bephotoash lamp having certain characteristics, or adjusted for anothertype lamp or different timed relation to the peak v the operation ofthedevice soinitially set for a given type. oi"y of the armature of triggermember 21. latter bears against the latch member 43 which acts as a stopfor the armature 21, the air gap operation of the device. I

I claim:

3. A device for operating a photoash lamp and a shutter simultaneouslycomprising a shut-V actuating member' at substantially the peak of theflash.

4. A device for operating a photoash'lamp and a camera shuttersimultaneously comprising casas a shutter actuating member, a spring,

said member ready for actuation under the expansive force of saidspring, means for adjusting said trigger member for varying the timefactor of operation of said device, meansy for supporting a photoflashlamp, a solenoid circuit, a photofias'h lamp circuit in parallel withsaid solenoid circuit,'and means for causing a flow of electrical energythrough said circuits to flash said lamp and actuate saidtrigger withina predetermined period of time following initial flow of energy in saidcircuits t release said shutter actuating member at substantially thepeak. of the flash and means for varying the degree of movement of saidshutter actuating member.

5. A device for operating a photoilash lamp and a camera shuttersimultaneously, comprising a shutter actuating member, means for storingpotential energy upon a movement of said memto said shutter actuatingmember andthe other end positioned to engage a camera shutter arm, asolenoid having an armature arranged to Vconstitute a trigger member forholding said shutteractuating member ready for actuation, means foradjusting said `trigger member for varying the time factor of operationof said device, means for supporting a photofiash lamp, a solenoidcircuit, a photoflash lamp circuit in parallel with said solenoidcircuit and means for causing a` flow of electrical energy through saidcircuits to flash said lamp and move said trigger within a predeterminedperiod of time following initial flow of energy in .said circuits torelease said shutter actuating member at substantially the peak of theflash.

6. A device for operating `a `photoash lamp and a camera shuttersimultaneously comprising a`shutter actuating member, means for storingpotential energy upon a movement of said member, a flexible memberhaving one end connected to said shutter actuating member and the otherend positioned to engage a camera shutter arm, a solenoid having anarmature arranged to constitute a trigger member for holding saidshutter actuating memberready for actuation, means for adjusting said.trigger member for varying the time factor of operation of said device,means for supporting a. rhotoash lamp, a solenoid circuit,

a photoash la'np circuitI .in .parallel with said solenoid circuit. andmeans for causing a flow of electricalenergy through said circuits toflash said lamp and move said trigger within a predetermined period oftime following initial flow of .ener/gyda said circuits to release saidshutteractuating member at substantially the peak of the flash and meansfor adjusting the degree of forward movement of said shutter actuatingmember.

'L A device for operating a photoash lamp and a camera shuttersimultaneously comprising a shutter actuating member, a spring, meanscarried by said member for compressing said spring upon movement of saidmember. a nexible membei' having one end connected to said shutteractuating member a'nd the other end positioned to engage a camerashutter arm, a 'solenoid having an armature constituting a trigger tohold said member against expansive force of said spring ready for saidtrigger member for varying actuation, means for adjusting the timefactor said memberagainst of operation of said device,- means forsupporting a photoiiash lamp,

cuit, and means for causing a flow of electrical energy through saidcircuits to flash said lamp and actuate said trigger within apredetermined time period 'following initial flow of energy in saidcircuits to release said shutter actuating member at substantially theypeak of the flash.

8. A device for operating a photoflash lamp and a camera shuttersimultaneously comprising a shutter actuating member, a spring, meanscarried by said memberfor compressing said spring upon movement of saidmember, a flexible member having one end connected to said shutteractuating memberand theI other end positioned to engage a camera shutterarm, a solenoid having an armature constituting a trigger to holdexpansive force of said spring ready for actuation, means for adjustingl said trigger member 'for varying the time factor ber, a flexiblemember having one end connected l holding the plunger magnet alsocarried ranged of operation of said device, means for supporting aphotoiash lamp, a solenoid circuit, a photoflash Alamp circuit inparallel withv said solenoid circuit, and means for causing a flow ofelectrical energy through said `cix'cuitsto ilash said rlamp and actuatesaid trigger within a predetermined time period following initial ilowof energy in said circuits-to release said shutter actuating member atsubstantially the peak of the dash, and means for varying the degree ofmovement of said shut ter actuating member.

9. 'A camera shutter operating device comprising a plunger, means formoving the plunger to actuate a, shutter release, movable means for in setvposition, an armature connected to said holding means, anelectromagnet arranged moving -the holding means out .of engagement withthe plunger, and extent of movement of said armature.

.10. A camera shutter operating device' comprising, a plunger having aportion adapted to act on a shutter release and a sliding portion, aspring arranged to urge the plunger toward shutter release actuatingposition, means for adjusting the spring to vary the speed of motion ofthe plunger, movable means for holding the plunger in set position, anarmature operatively associated with said holding means, said holdingmeans and said armature being movablyfmounted on said support, anelectroby said support and arranged to act on said armature for movingthe holding means out of engagement with the plunger, and of movement ofi means for regulating the extent said armature.

l1. A camera shutter operating device comprising, a plunger having a.portion'adaptedto act on a shutter release and a a spring arrangedtourge the shutter release actuating position, means for adiusting thespring to lvary the speed of motion of the plunger, movable means forholding the plungerin set position, an armature operatively associatedwith said holding means, asupporting means and said armature beingpivotally mounted on said frame, an electromagnet also mounted on saidframe and arto act on said armature for moving the holding means out ofengagement with the plunger, and means for regulating the extent ofmovea solenoid circuit, a photoilash lamp circuit in parallel with saidsolenoid cir-l to act on said armature fory means fo regulating the asupport,

sliding portion, plunger toward

